Acomprehensive model is presented to predict the synergistic effect of D2EHPA and Cyanex 302 on co-extraction of zinc and manganese. The experimental results indicated that pH, temperature and the extractants ratio have strong effects on the extraction process. Correlations were proposed to predict the distribution coefficient of zinc and manganese between two phases at different conditions by multiple linear regression. The correlations were simplified by eliminating less important terms by analysis of variance. Optimum conditions (ie pH, temperature, extractants ratio and aqueous to oil phase volumetric ratio) for obtaining maximum separation of zinc from manganese at different zinc concentrations and number of extraction stages were determined._x000D_
For finding the optimum condition genetic algorithm was used. Comparison the model estimations and the experimental data show that the presented model has good ability to predict the behaviours of zinc extraction system over Cyanex 302 and D2EHPA._x000D_
CITATION:Hosseini, T, Daneshpayeh, M, Mostoufi, N and Rashchi, F, 2010. Modelling of synergistic effect of cyanex 302 and D2EHPA in zinc solvent extraction, in Proceedings XXV International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC) 2010, pp 335-344 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).